Lira, Uganda | Persons with disabilities (PWDs) in Lango subregion have received food relief packages donated by members of the Pakistan and Indian communities in Lira City as part of activities marking the holy month of Ramadan.
The items were distributed on Saturday at the Lango Cultural Centre in an event organised in partnership with the Lango Cultural Institution.
Speaking during the function, the Speaker of Tekwaro A’Lango, Willy Omodo Omodo, who represented the Paramount Chief of Lango, His Royal Highness Eng. Dr. Moses Michael Odongo Okune said the cultural institution has strengthened cooperation between the Lango community and foreign investors operating in the region.
Omodo Omodo noted that in the past, some Lango workers reported mistreatment while working in factories owned by members of the Pakistan and Indian communities. However, he said the situation had improved after the cultural institution engaged the investors and guided them on the cultural values and behaviour of the Lango people.
He said that since the current cultural leadership assumed office about two years ago, such complaints have significantly reduced.
Omodo Omodo also assured investors that the Lango community will continue to provide a peaceful and friendly environment to support businesses and investments in the subregion.
At the same time, he cautioned workers against rushing to radio stations to air grievances about their employers. Instead, he encouraged them to seek peaceful and amicable solutions through dialogue and by consulting the cultural institution for guidance.
He commended the Pakistan Association in Lira for supporting development in the region, including drilling boreholes and promoting Islamic education among young people.
However, Omodo Omodo expressed concern that many persons with disabilities were not taking advantage of scholarship and bursary opportunities offered through the Lango Cultural Institution.
The President of Pakistan Association Lira, Muhammad Atiq Nawaz, said the distribution of relief items at the cultural centre was intended to bring persons with disabilities closer to their cultural institution.
According to Atiq Nawaz, many of the beneficiaries had never visited the cultural centre and were not familiar with their cultural leaders.
He praised the leadership of Paramount Chief Odongo Okune for maintaining good working relations with the Pakistan and Indian communities and for engaging them to create employment opportunities for the people of Lango.
Atiq Nawaz said their association has been supporting vulnerable groups, including persons with disabilities, prisoners, and other needy communities in Lango for nearly six years.
He added that apart from donating food items, the association also repairs boreholes in several areas in the Acholi subregion, including Lamwo District, as well as in Lango.
He also revealed that the association constructed a mosque in Abongomola in Kwania District, which currently serves more than 200 Muslim worshippers.
Atiq Nawaz further noted that the association annually provides support to children at Ngetta Babies Home.
The Supreme Khadi of the Lango Greater Muslim Community, Sheikh Yusuf Balinda, said the donation was in line with the teachings of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, which encourages Muslims to give to the needy.
He explained that during Ramadan, Muslims are expected to practice charity while observing fasting and refraining from prohibited acts during the day.
A total of 200 relief packages were distributed to persons with disabilities. Each package contained 2kg of rice, 2kg of beans, 2kg of sugar, 2kg of posho, a packet of salt, and half a litre of cooking oil.
